A man who took P&O Ferries to court for unfair dismissal after he refused the company's redundancy offer and gagging order has won a huge sum. John Lansdown, 40, says he has won a settlement from the ferry company.
On March 17 this year, 800 seafarers were sacked by the firm to be replaced with a cheaper foreign workforce. John has since given "tens of thousands" to The Sailors Children's Society to provide food and heating for seafarers' children during the cost of living crisis, reports HullLive.
John, who started working at the ferry company at 16, said: "This is hugely important not just for myself but for all British citizens employed within the maritime industry and for employment rights and industrial relations for British workers. I’ve been left to fight this single-handedly after the UK Government failed to take any meaningful action against them.
"I, along with my colleagues and our respective friends and families, will never forget the brutal actions that P&O Ferries, supported by DP World, carried out earlier this year.
"The consequences have been severe. Not a day goes by when I don’t hear and see the very real consequences that the actions of P&O Ferries has had on the mental and physical well-being of my former colleagues.
"I am delighted to announce that I have reached a settlement with P&O Ferries. As a result, I have facilitated a substantial donation to the Sailors Children’s Society in Hull — a charity that supports seafarers' children across the United Kingdom.
"This was always about justice and accountability, never about money and personal gain. I am able to make this statement publicly because I refused their unjust offer and rejected the gagging order that they demanded sacked workers sign up to back in March."
John continued: "As this chapter closes, I remain committed to campaigning for better pay and conditions that essential workers such as fellow seafarers deserve, and campaigning for a safe and level playing field for maritime employers in which to operate. I hope that future generations of aspiring seafarers will have the same opportunities that I was afforded at the start of my career. Tomorrow we fight on."
Deanne Thomas, CEO of Sailors Children’s Society, thanked Mr Lansdown for his donation. She added: "On behalf of Sailors Children’s Society I would like to thank John Lansdown for this substantial donation which we have today received into the Society bank account.
"These funds will be used to support disadvantaged children of seafarers living in poverty throughout the United Kingdom. As the costs of living increase, this assistance will provide food and heating for those children in difficult times."
The Insolvency Service has determined P&O Ferries will not face criminal proceedings over its actions in firing almost 800 workers earlier this year.
The company sparked public anger and was hauled in front of MPs to answer questions when it sacked hundreds of workers without notice in March.
In a statement, the Government agency said it had determined there was “no realistic prospect of a conviction”.
A spokesperson said: “After a full and robust criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the employees who were made redundant by P&O Ferries, we have concluded that we will not commence criminal proceedings.”
A civil investigation is ongoing.
Nautilus International, a union which represents maritime professionals, said the Insolvency Service’s decision will be a blow to the “discarded” workers.
General secretary Mark Dickinson said: “This is a deeply disappointing decision and will be met with frustration and anger by the 786 seafarers and their families who were so cruelly discarded by P&O Ferries.
“Only one day after P&O Ferries parent company announced record profits, making the company’s claims on operational sustainability questionable, we are further let down by a system that fails to punish apparent criminal corporatism.
“The message is clear, P&O Ferries must be held properly accountable for their disgraceful actions and we will continue the campaign to ensure that the CEO and his fellow Directors are held to account and to make certain this can never happen again.”
During the hearings in Parliament the business admitted that it had broken the law that would have forced them to give notice of the firings. This was because no unions would have accepted its new proposals, bosses said at the time.
A Government spokesperson told the BBC: “In sacking 800 dedicated staff on the spot, P&O Ferries not only acted callously but failed to uphold the high standards we expect of British businesses.
“Given their appalling behaviour, it’s very disappointing that the company will not face criminal proceedings.”
